Hosiery



Aug. 17 1925.

HOSIERY Y Filed Dec. 5, 1925 2 ,Sheefis-Sheei 1 P. E. GILBERT iLBERT P. E. G

HOSIERY 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1925 VET Ii?? Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

rrsN'r OFFICE.

PHILIP E. GILBERT, OF CHICAGO, ILL'LINOIS.

I-IOSIERY.

Application filed December This invention relates to an improvement in hosiery, and more particularly to means for providing for longitudinal stretch in the toe portion of the sock or stocking to reduce the tendency of said toe portion to wear out- This application describes a modification of the improved hosiery disclosed in my Patent No. 1,553,811, issued September 15, 1925. In that patent a toe portion was provided for hosiery having ribs, the wales thereof extending in a plane transversely of the length of the foot to permit longitudinal stretching. Practical difficulties were encountered in making such a toe by machine and it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a toe portion having the desired stretching qualities that may be readily formed on machines now in use for making hosiery by slight modifications.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a prefered form) is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved hose provided with a toe portion embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the foot showing the method of forming the toe portion.

Figure 3 is a top plan fragmentary view showing the toe portion in finished condition.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the same in an unfinished condition.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the same in finished condition.

' Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a second modified form of my invention in unfinished state.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates the leg portion of a sock, the upper end of which terminates in a top 2, while the lower portion has integrally formed thereon a foot section 3. The hose has a heel portion 4: which may be of any selected construction.

The improved portion of the hose is the toe portion 5 which is constructed of a web material having the wales thereof extending as formed longitudinally of the length 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,360.

of the foot. Said toe portion 5 is knit integrally with the bottom of the foot portion 3 on a circular knitting machine and is provided with tabs 6 and an intermediate portion 7, said tabs and intermediate portion having arcuate margins 8 and being formed in a subsequent cutting operation- The upper portion of the foot 3' as cut terminates in a V-shaped tongue 9. In the finished state shown in Figure 3 the tabs 6 are folded along dotted lines 10 and the adjacent marginal edges of the tabs 6, the tongue 9 and the arcuate margins 8 are joined together to form the finished sock. It will be noted that the wales of the upper portion of the toe 5 now extend substantially transversely of the length of the foot and therefore allow the desired degree of longitudinal stretch.

In Figures t to 6 inclusive there is shown a modified form of my invention in connection with a sock 11 having a foot portion 12. The lower portion of said foot 12 is provided with an integral toe 13 of my improved construction. Said toe 13, as shown in Figure 5, is cut in U-shaped portions 14: and 15 integrally joined along one edge 16 and adapted when folded along said edge 16 to form the lower and upper sides of the finished toe. The so folded portion is joined along the adjacent margins 19 as shown in Figure 6. It will be noted that after folding the portion 15 over onto the portion 14:, th wales in said portion 15 extend transversely of the length of the foot thus providing for the desired longitudinal stretch.

In Figure 7 there is shown a toe portion 17 similar to that shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive but provided with an inset portion 18 to give additional stretching capacity to said toe portion. The inset portion 18 may be suitably formed as by double spacing the ribs or any other known way of obtaining an extra amount of stretchability.

In the various types of improved toes shown it will be apparent that I have provided a toe having an upper portion in which the wales extend substantially transversely of the length of the foot, thus pro viding a maximum degree of stretchability. This construction allows for the natural lengthening of the foot in walking and acts to prevent the binding effect on the toes so frequently produced by the ordinary type of hosiery.

I am aware that many changes may be made and that numerous details of construction may. be varied through a Wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sock or stocking blank having a knit toe, each of the Wales thereof extending longitudinally of the footv portion asknited and the toe terminating in tabs having arcnate edges, said edges being adapted to be; joined to form a toe having the Wales on the, top thereof extending substantially transversely of the foot portion.

2. A sock or stocking blank havinga knit toe, said toe in. unfinished state being; provided with tabs. adapted to be joined to gether at their margins to form a toe, Which in finished state has Wales extending transversely of the foot portion.

3; A sock or stocking blank having aknit toe, said toe being formed integral with the foot portion and being provided with areuate margins adapted to be joined to each other to form the finished sock or stocking, the; Walesin the upper portion of the toe of said finished sock or stocking extending substantially transversely of the foot portion.

In testimony whereof I, have-hereuntosub scribed my name.

PHILIP E.. GILBERT. 

